NEWCASTLE: Rafa Benitez does not want to "go to war" and is focused on survival after deadline day

EVEN if Rafael Benitez is disappointed at the way the transfer window panned out for Newcastle United, he isn’t going to go public on his feelings. What matters to the Newcastle United manager now, is keeping Premier League football at St James’ Park.

Benitez was one of few top-flight managers not to spend any money on transfer fees last month, even if he was allowed to bring in the three loan signings that he was told he could half-way through.

Brazilian winger Kenedy has already made an impressive debut and now all eyes are on whether striker Islam Slimani and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will make their debuts tomorrow at Crystal Palace after arriving from Leicester and Sparta Prague respectively.

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Disappointed supporters hoping to see Mike Ashley splash the cash after the collapse of Amanda Staveley’s attempts to takeover the club were left frustrated. They showed it by displaying a message through flags depicting an old quote from Kevin Keegan before Wednesday night’s game with Burnley.

But Benitez, who would have preferred to have landed Feyenoord’s £20m-rated striker Nicolai Jorgensen, does not want to reflect on the past and go into battle with Ashley – his aims are purely centred on keeping Newcastle up.

He said: "I knew that someone would maybe ask this question (happy with the deals) but I'm here to express my feeling and at the moment that feeling is that we are a little bit better than three days before.

“Why? We have new players with different characteristics and they want to play, improve and push and the others are already working hard.

“I'm here trying to bring the best from the team that is the best for the club. I don't want to create a war, I don't need to do that but I need to be sure the players are concentrated on football, playing well and getting points every game to stay up.”

Jorgensen might have been his top target last month but neither he nor the club felt Feyenoord were being fair in their valuation of the Danish international – and Benitez is keen to move on.

He said: "I will not analyse that because that would start another polemic. I won't do that. I need the team doing well. What I need is the team to play well. Believe me, it's not a question of: 'I'm happy, I'm not happy.'

"It doesn't change anything. I want to be sure that the players they will improve, that the players they are ready, that we can get points - and fine. Our priority is just to stay in the Premier League. That is the best for the club and then I will try to do the best for the team, and the club.”

In previous weeks Benitez was happy to concede Newcastle need to find a better way of doing business, rather than moving on their targets when it is too late during the window.

And it will not be long before attention turns to the summer, and how Newcastle can enhance a squad equipped to take things to the next level – provided they avoid the drop.

Benitez said: "On Thursday, when I was talking with (head of recruitment) Steve Nickson and the scouting team, they have been working so hard for all these months. I said: 'Listen, take some holidays.' Some of them are already just analysing for the summer.

"We are doing a review now of the players that we were following, how they were doing, and all these things. But they are doing that already.

“What we have to do is stay up. I think it will be 40 points we need. Why? Because you can see teams winning, losing or drawing. But someone, any time, will have problems and then 40 points, I cannot see everybody over 40. Someone will have problems. I think three or four teams will be below 40, so 40 for me is a guarantee."

Newcastle will not have Aleksandar Mitrovic in their ranks for the fight ahead after allowing him to join Fulham on loan – but Benitez will not close the door on a return.

Benitez said: "My relationship with him is fine. He's a nice lad. You pick your team. I don't need to worry about my ego. I have won trophies around the world and I don't need to be worried about my ego. My priority to win games. You pick your team thinking 'this is the best team for me'.

"It was clear that he wanted and needed to play games. Now he has an opportunity. Hopefully, he'll score 25 goals. We'll be happy with that. He'll have more value. He will come here and say 'I'm a new player, you have to trust me because I've scored 25 goals'. Fine, no problem.”

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